Testimony: Streamlining Services for Children, Increasing Support for Grandparent and Relative Caregivers, and Empowering Parents in CFSA Investigations

Children’s Law Center Senior Policy Attorney Leah Castelaz testified before the Committee on Youth Affairs regarding three bills: B26-0406 – Streamlining Services for Children Amendment Act of 2025; B26-0398 – Increasing Support for Grandparent and Close Relative Caregivers Amendment Act of 2025; and B26-0409 – Empowering Parents in CFSA Investigations Amendment Act of 2025.

These three bills aim to strengthen interagency coordination, better meet the needs of children and families with critical financial support, and support parents with information that will help to rebalance the power dynamics in the child welfare system. Our testimony outlines how the District could leverage existing resources to accomplish the goals of the Streamlining Services Act and discusses our support of the other two bills while also raising some questions we hope the agency and Committee will consider around their implementation.